Classical Comics
Classical Comics are a British publisher releasing graphic novel adaptations of the great works literature, including Shakespeare, Bronte and Dickens.
Overview
All of the volumes will be published as graphic novels. Art is being provided by British artists, most of whom have a long history of working in British comics. Some of the releases, in particular the Shakespeare, will come in three different versions: the original text, plain text and quick text.
Classical Comics chairman, Clive Bryant has stated "We want to make Shakespeare as energetic and colourful as Spiderman"[1] The aim is not just to aid in English literature classes but also in other areas: Karen Wenborn , the managing director, has said "We, and the teachers we’ve consulted, can visualize huge benefits within the education process using the books, not only for literacy and literature, but also drama, art and history.”[2]
Reception
The National Association for the Teaching of English is supporting the project. "This is a fun way of getting into the stories", the director Ian McNeilly said. "Plays are not meant to be read, but to be seen. The illustrations in these books are an easy way of following what is going on".[3] Wenborn has also reported that focus groups were "incredibly enthusiastic".[4]
However, they have also been accused, by newspapers like the Daily Mail, of dumbing down the original text, especially with the very simplified versions. They quote Dr Bernard Lamb, of the Queen's English Society, as saying "Pupils may just enjoy the cartoons and not connect it with Shakespeare and they won't be much of a contribution to education" and that "A lot of the beauty of Shakespeare is in the language more than the plot."[5]
Titles
- Henry V (by John McDonald, with pencils by Neill Cameron and inks by Bambos, 144 pages, November 2007)[6]
- Macbeth (by John McDonald and Jon Haward, 132 pages, early 2008)[7]
- Jane Eyre by Amy Corzine and John Burns, 144 pages, Spring 2008)[8]
- Great Expectations (by Jen Green and John Stokes, Spring 2008)[9]
- Frankenstein (by Jason Cobley and Declan Shalvey, 132 pages, Summer 2008)[10]
- Romeo and Juliet (by John McDonald and Gary Erskine, Summer 2008)
- A Christmas Carol (by Sean M Wilson, Summer 2008)
- Richard III (by John McDonald, Summer 2008)
See also
Similar projects include:
- Classics Illustrated, a similar venture from the 1940s to 1960s
- Marvel Illustrated, Marvel Comics imprint adapting classic literature
- Graphic Classics[11]
- Self Made Hero, another new British company producing adaptations of literature, including some of the same Shakespeare plays
- The Manga Bible, an adaptation by Siku
References
- ^ Then lend the eye an easy aspect, Times Educational Supplement, August 17, 2007
- ^ Classics as graphic novels? Have your say!, National Association for the Teaching of English, June 29, 2007
- ^ To be or not to be dumb, The Sunday Tribune, September 2, 2007
- ^ Shakespeare gets comic treatment, BBC, May 11, 2007
- ^ Shakespeare dumbed down in comic strips for bored pupils, Daily Mail, August 17, 2007
- ^ http://www.classicalcomics.com/books/henryv.html
- ^ http://www.classicalcomics.com/books/macbeth.html
- ^ http://www.classicalcomics.com/books/janeeyre.html
- ^ http://www.classicalcomics.com/books/greatexpectations.html
- ^ http://www.classicalcomics.com/books/frankenstein.html
- ^ http://www.graphicclassics.com/